New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-20
FOUR OUT OF SIX DROWNED.
DISASTROUS END OF A PLEASURE PARTY.


RETUBNED-THE UPTURNED CATBOAT FOUND.
From information obtained yesterday it is believed that
four OF six who out sailing on Sunday AFTER
in a catrigged boat from Murphy Brothers boat
house in Jersey City have been lost. Murphys boat
house is In part OF Jersey City which was formerly
known Communipaw Phlips-st. runs along the shore
Of New York Bay from the NcwJersey Central Railroad
tracks TO the southery limit OF the ancient village OF
Communpaw. The street Is studded at intervals with
lighthouses, and nearly every man who lives near the
shore either a sailboat or rowb0at Boats SEEM
ingly without number anchored tied TO stakes
some distance of the shore while at this time of the year
Of the craft hauled up the sandy shore behg
put in readiness for the coming season.
William Mason, who lived at No. 1876 Phipsst facing
the bay and about 100 yards south Of Commumpawave.
owned fourteen-foot catboat which he kept at
Murphy's thouse only few feet from his own
dwelling. Mason WIS an operator in the commercial
Cable Company's Office in wallst On Sunday some
friends called to see him, and after dinner 1t was
proposed to have sail In Masons boat down the pay us
far Bayonne Mason and his friends who were man
named Robinson and Robinson's brother-inlaw, name
unknown. both OF Brooklyn and both employees Of the
Commercial Cable Company, started for the boathouse
On the way they Frank Bernard, Masons brother
n-law Richard westerman and Charles f. Johnson and
invited them TO 90 along Bernard shipping clerk
employed in house in Park place, NewYork, and lived
at No 1873 Phipsst Johnson lived at No 113 Phillips
ST. He has not been engaged In any business recently
but he formerly kept hotel in West Farms Westchester
County. Westeman was salesman in Underhll, sote
& Muchmores clothing house, Broadway, this city and
lived in Halliday-st
The party OF six filed the boat to its utmost capacity
and more OF the loungers around the boat
house thought There brisk northwest wind blow
ing, and the boat headed the bay the party
seemed destined to have good days sport. They did
return that night and the next morning the wives OF
the men went the boathouse to make inquiry about
them. Nothing had been heard OF them there, and the
became exceedingly anxious, especially Mrs.
Johnson whose husband, a steady housekeeping man.
had not remained away from home all night in good
years As the day wore on the anxiety increased
and In the afternoon messengers were sent down along
the shore toward Bayonne TO make inquiries. 1t was
first learned that the party put In at Pamrapo about
m, and after having several rounds OF drinks at
Churchills Hotel put on again. Mr. Church SAID tnat
they all perfectly sober.
The next information obtained was startling. II was
TO the effect that boat answering the description OF
Masons hnd picked up off Robbins Reef Lighthouse
by tug and towed TO Ezabethport No other trace
discovered until yesterday. At $3.50 IN. Daniel III.
Murphy and Frank Ricketts, chartered the tug j. L.
Hogan aud went In search of the missing men and boat
They steamed first Fort Hamilton and thence started
for Elizabcthport intending 10 stop on the way at Con-
stable Hook the Hogan seaming across the bay
she came up with the tug Annie Williams and hailed her
The tugs drew alongside OF each other and Murphy asked
the captain Of the Annie Williams II he Ind seen any
thing OF the missing catboat The captain answered that
Reef Tnd towcd her to Ezabehport The boat he said,
up and had her sail set showing that she was
capsiled probably In a sudden squal The boom, gan
and sail OF the catboat on board the tug, ana
Murphy recognized them NJ as belonging 10 Masons
boat. Murphy went 10 El1abethport and had no
difficulty In identifying the boat Her hull was painted
white and her deck green. Murphy returned 10 Jersey
City and reported his discovery He arrived at the boat
In the meantime Mrs Mason had gone to Brooklyn TO
ascertain IL Robinson had returned home. she fOunu
that he had Robinson said 10 her that about 1880 p m
Sunday the boat put In Painrapo at his request
and and his brother inaw got ashore TOOK tc tram
for CITY and went home Robinson said that ne
insisted on being put ashore because the party were
becominR hilarious and he did not To remain on
a racket" Robinson was surprised on learning from
Mrs Mason that her husband and the Others had not
returned home. Mrs Mason did not know az that time
phy The people at Murphy's boathousc and in the
neighborhood convinced that the four missing men
drowned Their wives are In great distress and have
given up all hope.
Masons house. but she refused Ia he Her sister
said that she completely prostrated with GRIEF ana
despair aud had wept continuously since hcr return
from BROOKLYN when She learned the result OF Murphys
visit 10 Elixabethport Mrs Mason has one child. Mrs
johnson had heard the news brought home by Murphy
and had given up all hopc sho has five children the
eldest being fifteen years old. Her husband had $500
Mrs westernan could be seen Mrs. Bernard was at
the house her sister, Mrs Mason. All the shad usher
men along shore have been informed 10 keep look
out for the bodies OF the missing men, -
william Reynolds, OF Jersey CITY, told q TRIBUNE re-
porter night that ho and William Hughes were out
the water OF Pamrapo duck shooting about 80 ~
Sunday and saw a white boat with six men In 10. Their
attention was attracted 10 II account OF the seemingly
and REYNOLDS remarked to his friends that the men
would capsze the boat II they not more careful